Lamp stand



Dec. 14, 1965 M. MACALUSO, JR 3,223,326

LAMP STAND Filed Sept. 25, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Mam (ms INVENTOR.

MICHAEL MACALUSO JR.

ATTORNEY 1965 M. MACALUSO, JR 6 LAMP STAND Filed Sept. 25, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY MICHAEL MACALUSO JR.

United States Patent Ofiice 3,223,826 Patented Dec. 14, 1965 3,223,826 LAMP STAND Michael Maealuso, Jr., 222 Chili Ave, Rochester, N.Y. Filed Sept. 25, 1961, Ser. No. 140,287 4 Claims. (Cl. 219-352) The present invention is directed to an improved lamp stand and more particularly is directed to portable heat or infrared lamp stand having a plurality of individually adjustable lamps.

Currently in automobile body shops wherein collision repair work is constantly being performed, many different, rather inconvenient and quite unsafe methods and devices are used to position and support heat and infrared lights in proper relationship to the automobile to perform their. assigned task. In very large busy shops special heat drying rooms are provided which are equipped with banks and tiers of heat and infrared lamps that can be selectively energized to direct a beam on any desired part of the vehicle body. However, the large majority of body shops are not large enough or busy enough with year around volume business to justify the large expense necessary to install and maintain these expensive special heat drying rooms. In this last category of body shops, heat lamps are hung from wires dangling from overhead beams, are clamped on posts, to parts of vehicle bodies, on the backs of chairs and the like. Electric cords are stretched around, over and between the work area constantly creating a tripping hazard for the workmen. Frequently the wire cords get shorted due to cuts caused by falling tools or by being run over by heavy welding equipment. Occasionally the wires become grounded on some of the equipment causing dangerous electric shock to anyone unfortunate enough to come in contact with the grounded equipment.

It is, therefore, a principal object of this invention to overcome the above noted disadvantage of the prior art and to provide an improved heat and infrared light stand.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved light stand that is not only safe and stable, but also is durable and efficient.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an improved light stand that is readily portable to any desired area and position in the shop.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved light stand that is adapted to support a plurality of heat lights that are adjustable relative to each other, to the ground and to the Work piece.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an improved light stand that has a plurality of selectively useable electrical outlets while requiring only one attaching cord to a source of power.

And still another object of this invention is to provide an improved light stand that has readily attachable and detachable insulated light elements that are individually energized for use.

And still a further object of this invention is to provide an improved electric cord splice making possible a safer connection between two or more individual lamps.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description of the same proceeds, and the invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawing, but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims:

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one preferred form of a light stand embodying my invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged partially cut-away side view of one of the lamps shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged view of an improved electrical connector joining two lamps with one electrical p s;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken through the base of my lamp stand; and

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken through one of the vertical slide mechanisms of my invention.

Referring specifically to the drawings, in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the views, myinvention in its present embodiment comprises a light stand 10 having a base 12, a vertical rod 14, ad justable cross-rods 16, 18, a plurality of heat lamps 20 connected to a bank of receptacles 22 that is adapted to be energized by an external source of power through plug 24.

Specifically the base 12 is provided in the preferred form with an elongated body 25 of channel shape in cross-section and having one end 26 bent down so that when said bent down end is engaged with a surface, such as a floor, it will grip said surface to prevent easy movement of the stand until said end 26 is disengaged from the surface. The other end portion 27 of the body 25 is enlarged outwardly from the sides of said body to form oppositely disposed projections 28. End walls 29 are provided on the outward ends of said projections 28 in which walls apertures are formed to receive in bearing relationship a transverse axle 30 having enlarged rubber wheels 31 secure on each end thereof as by nuts 32.

As best shown in FIGURE 4, a cavity 34 is formed in the end portion 27 of the body 25 of said base 12 in which cavity is nested a plurality of electrical outlets 36 secured to a plate 33 which in turn is fastened to the body 25 by screws 40. The outlets 36 are electrically connected by means of a heavy duty cord 42 to the plug 241 which is adapted to be plugged into a socket of an appropriate source of electricity. In the illustrated form of the invention three outlets 36 are shown, but it is believed to be obvious that two, four or any number could be used without departing from the spirit of the invention. At the approximate geometrical center of the base between the wheels 30 and the downturned end 26 is an aperture 46 with a threaded flange forming a wall 47 therearound into which is screwed the cylindrical vertical rod 14 which extends upwardly an appropriate predetermined distance.

Adjustably positioned on the rod 14 is one, two or more clamp bodies 48, shown by FIGURE 5, each one of which has a pair of aligned hexagonal openings 50 formed in the two laterally extending arms 52 through which the hexagonally shaped cross-rods 16, 18 extend in opposite directions. The fit between the hexagonal rods 16, 18 and the hexagonal openings 50 is such that the rods can be forceably moved lengthwise through the clamp body 48, but the cross-rods 16, 18 are not able to be rotated about their longitudinal axes.

Each clamp body 48 is comprised of an elongate housing 56 having a pair of aligned apertures 58, 60 formed through the opposite end portions 62, 64 thereof and into which apertures said vertical rod 14 is adapted to be slidably received. The housing 56 has an inwardly extending projection or abutment 66 formed on the inside of the one end portion 64 in relatively close proximity to the aperture 60. The abutment 66 lies substantially parallel to the axis of the rod 14 and has an inner face 68 adapted to lie in the path of and be engaged by a locking lever 78.

The lever 70 has an aperture 71 therethrough which aperture has an inside diameter slightly larger than the outside diameter of rod 14. The aperture 71 in said lever 70 is adapted to receive said rod 14 for axial movement thereon when the plane of said lever is perpendicular to the axis of said rod. The lever 70 has a release tab 72 extending outwardly from one portion thereof, which tab passes through and beyond an opening 73 in the top wall 74 of the housing 56. A compression spring 75 is concentrically disposed about said rod 14 within the housing 56 and bears between a shoulder 77 therein and one side of the lever 70 in such a manner that one edge of the lever 70 is caused to bear against the face 68 of the projection 66 so that the unsupported edge of the lever is canted relative to the axis of the lever sufliciently to grip the walls of the aperture 71 into the rod 14 and hold the clamp body 48 locked relative to the rod.

The release tab 72 of the lever 70 is so positioned outside the housing 56 through the opening 73 that a finger of an operator may be pressed against said tab to pivot the lever about the edge in contact with the face of the abutment or projection 66 and against the compression of the spring 75. When the lever 78 has been pivoted enough to align the edges of the aperture 71 with the rod 14, the clamp body 48 may be moved in either direction along the length of said rod for adjusting the distance between the clampbody 48 and the base 12 of the stand.

Each heat lamp 20 is provided with a reflector hood 80, a heat bulb 81, a socket 82 and a gripping element 83. The hood 80 is flared from a relatively wide open mouth portion 84 down to a cylindrical end portion 85 in which is secured the conventional heat resistant light socket 82. An insulated cord 86 is wired to the socket 82 in which socket is screwed the heat bulb 81 of the type in general use in shops using this equipment. The gripping element 83 has one half 87 channel-shaped in crosssection and formed as a relatively flat L divided into a handle portion 88 and a jaw portion 89. One wall 90 of the jaw portion 89 is formed relatively flat to abut against a relatively flat portion of said cylindrical end portion 85 of the hood 80 and is held in resilient contact therewith by means of a double-headed lug 91 extending from within the gripping element 83 to within said end portion 85.

A coil spring 92 is concentrically disposed around said lug 91 and abuts between said relatively flat inner portion of said end portion 85 and one flanged end of said lug 91 to thereby urge said gripping element 83 against said hood.

The other half 93 of the gripping element 83 is L- shaped and is divided into a jaw portion 94 and a handle portion 95 having backturned side flanges to add rigidity thereto. A pivot pin 96 passes through overlapping flange portions of the two halves 87, 93 with an openended spring 97 passed around said pin 96 ad having its two free ends bearing respectively against the inner walls of the handle portions 88, 95. The spring 97 serves to force the jaw portions 89, 94, respectively, of the sides 87, 93 of the gripping element 83 together so that when the jaws are placed around a hexagonal crossbar 16 or 18 and the handles 88, 95 released, the jaws will clamp firmly against the crossbar and hold the lamp 20 securely in place. The jaws 89, 94 are preferably coated with rubber or like material that serves to insulate the lamps from the 4 rod and from the base to reduce the possibility of grounding in the event of a short circuit in one of the lamps.

The lamp 20 with its hood and socket 82 has a switch 98 extending rearwardly of said cylindrical portion of the hood and has an on and an off position whereby each individual lamp 20 can be independently operated.

The wire cords 86 from each pair of lamps 29 are electrically connected together and to a single cord 99 which connection is then bonded in a non-conducting material to form a coupling element 100. The cords 99 are provided with a coil spring element molded therein so that the relaxed condition of the cord will be wound up into a compact coil as at 101 in FIGURE 3. A plug 103 is connected to the cord 99 and is adapted to be plugged into one of the sockets 36 in the base of the stand. Although three sockets 36 and six lamps 20 are illustrated, it is obvious that any desired number of sockets 36 and lamps 20 can be used. The coupling elements 100 being of bonded construction seal the wiring connection between the lamps securely together so as to make a safe, tough and economical joint.

Due to the resilient mounting between the gripping element 83 and the lamp hood 80, it is possible to swing the hood 80 with its lamp 81 through a limited angular range of movement to direct the heat rays of the lamp onto any desired spot. Also due to the vertical adjustability of the clamp body 48, the tiers of lamps carried by each crossbar 16 and 18 can be raised or lowered a predetermined amount while the gripping elements 83 on each lamp make it possible to move the lamps in and out relative to the vertical rod 14 a preselected amount. The wheeled-type base 12 permits the whole stand to be moved toward or away from the work piece very readily. A lamp can thereby be moved toward or away, raised or lowered, moved sidewise, and/or pivoted, all relative to the desired area.

Thus it is believed to be obvious that with my improved lamp stand it is possible to secure substantially pinpoint accuracy in spotting a lamp to a particular part of the body being treated. One, two or more lamps can be energized conveniently and without waste with only one cord 42 needed to connect the lamp stand 12 with a source of power. The individual lamps are shielded from grounding as is the stand. The bonded connections 100 between the cords of each pair of lamps protect against possible shock while the coiled wire 101 and convenient bank of plugs 36 on the base provide a neat, safe and economical system for repair shop use.

Having described one preferred form of my invention, it is obvious that various other modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact forms, constructions, arrangements and combinations of parts herein shown and described, or the uses mentioned.

I claim:

1. Ina lamp stand the combination of a base, a pair of wheels rotatably supported on one end portion of said base, a surface gripping portion remotely located on another end portion of said base, a multiplug outlet member carried by said base and adapted to be energized by plugging into a source of electrical power, a vertical rod member upwardly extending from said base, at least one horizontal bar adjustably positioned on said rod member, means supporting said bar and operatively gripping said rod for holding said bar in a preselected position relative to said base, release means on said last named means for releasing said gripping on said rod whereby said bar can be adjusted relative to said base, at least one pair of heat lamps carried by said horizontal bar, releasable jaw means on each lamp for gripping said bar in preselected locations along its length, pivot means between said lamp and said jaw means whereby said lamp may be pivoted in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said pivot means, means connecting each pair of heat lamps to a single separate connector cord, plug means on each of said cords for plugging into a plug of said outlet member and means for separately energizing said lamps to direct heat rays onto a surface.

2. In a lamp stand the combination of a base, a multiplug electrical outlet member carried by said base, a vertical rod member upwardly extending from said base, at least one horizontal bar adjustably positioned on said rod member, means supporting said bar and operatively gripping said rod for holding said bar in a preselected position relative to said base, release means on said last named means for releasing said gripping on said rod whereby said bar can be adjusted relative to said base, at least one pair of heat lamps carried by said horizontal bar, releasable jaw means on each heat lamp for releasably gripping said bar at preselected locations along its length, pivot means between said lamp and said jaw means whereby said lamp may be pivoted in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said pivot means, means connecting each pair of heat lamps to a single separate connector cord, plug means on each of said cords for plugging into a plug of said outlet member and means for separately energizing said lamps to direct heat rays onto a surface.

3. In a lamp stand the combination of a base, a pair of wheels rotatably supported on one end portion of said base, a surface gripping portion remotely located on another end portion of said base, a multiplug electrical outlet member carried by said base, a vertical rod member upwardly extending from said base, at least one horizontal bar adjustably positioned on said rod member, means supporting said bar and operatively gripping said rod for holding said bar in a preselected position relative to said base, release means on said last named means for releasing said gripping on said rod whereby said bar can be adjusted relative to said base, .at least one heat lamp carried by said horizontal bar, releasable jaw means on said heat lamp for gripping said bar at a preselected location along its length, pivot means between said lamp and said jaw means whereby said lamp may be pivoted in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said pivot means,

means connecting said heat lamp to a plug of said outlet member and means for energizing said lamp to direct heat rays onto a surface.

4. In a lamp stand the combination of a base, a multiplug electrical outlet member carried by said base, a vertical rod member upwardly extending from said base, at least one horizontal bar adjustably positioned on said rod member, means supporting said bar and operatively gripping said rod for holding said bar in a preselected position relative to said base, release means on said last named means for releasing said gripping on said rod whereby said bar can be adjusted relative to said base, at least one heat lamp carried by said horizontal bar, releasable jaw means on said lamp for gripping said bar at preselected locations along its length, pivot means between said lamp and said jaw means whereby said lamp may be pivoted in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said pivot means, means connecting said heat lamp to said-electrical outlet member and means for separately energizing said lamp to direct heat rays onto a surface.

References Cited by the Examiner RICHARD M. WOOD, Primary Examiner.

ANTHONY BARTIS, Examiner. 

1. IN A LAMP STAND THE COMBINATION OF A BASE, A PAIR OF WHEELS ROTATABLY SUPPORTED ON ONE END PORTION OF SAID BASE, A SURFACE GRIPPING PORTION REMOTELY LOCATED ON ANOTHER END PORTION OF SAID BASE, A SMULTIPLUG OUTLET MEMBER CARRIED BY SAID BASE AND ADAPTED TO BE ENERGIZED BY PLUGGING INTO A SOURCE OF ELECTRICAL POWER, A VERTICAL ROD MEMBER UPWARDLY EXTENDING FROM SAID BASE, AT LEAST ONE HORIZONTAL BAR ADJUSTABLY POSITIONED ON SAID ROD MEMBER, MEANS SUPPORTING SAID BAR AND OPERATIVELY GRIPPING SAID ROD FOR HOLDING SAID BAR IN A PRESELECTED POSITION RELATIVE TO SAID BASE, RELEASE MEANS ON SAID LAST NAMED MEANS FOR RELEASING SAID GRIPPING ON SAID ROD WHEREBY SAID BAR CAN BE ADJUSTED RELATIVE TO SAID BASE, AT LEAST ONE PAIR OF HEAT LAMPS CARRIED BY SAID HORIZONTAL BAR, RELEABLE JAW MEANS ON EACH LAMP FOR GRIPPING SAID BAR IN PRESELECTED LOCATIONS ALONG ITS LENGTH, PIVOT MEANS BETWEEN SAID LAMP AND SAID JAW MEANS WHEREBY SAID LAMP MAY BE PIVOTED 